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‘Tis the season tanaholics long for—the time to show off their bronze goddess supremacy. Snooki and JWoww are not alone when it comes to the abuse of bronzers, self tanners, and spray tans. But orange streaks and sparkly cheeks are not a forgone conclusion for gals in search of some safe summer color without nuking their skin.

There are some tricks to knowing how and also how much bronzer to apply without crossing the fab to fake line. Choose a shade that is not too dark for you—about one shade deeper than your natural skin tone—and go lightly. Avoid coming to a complete stop at your jawline and leaving a visible line of demarcation. Apply bronzer where you would naturally tan (forehead, bridge of the nose, cheekbones, chest) and blend evenly, including the neck and decollete. P.S. Watch your hairline too.

Here are the BITB team’s 6 BEST bronzers for this season – from luxe to less than you thought:

Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning ($35 at clarins.com) – A light, creamy whipped formula that goes on smoothly and suits fair blondes to brunettes with a natural looking sunkissed glow. Less is more with this one.

Photo Credit: clinique.com

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator($25) – We love this sheer liquid gold that comes in three great shades—Natural, Bronze and Blush—and is perfect for fair skin tones and anyone who wants a fresh hint of brightness.